Removable thumb-piexe  for jars or cans



(No Model.)

0. T. BRANT. REMOVABLE THUMB PIECE FOR JARS OR GA NS.

No. 495,196. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

Fig.5.

page.

Fig. 4.

i I 1970,9161 aTBmnL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK T. BRANT, on OHARITON, IOWA.

REMOVABLE THUMB-PlEfCE FOR JARS OR CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,196, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed January 16,1893- Serial No. 458,494. (No model.)

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, CLARK T. BRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Removable Thumb-Piece for Jars or Cans, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to removable or adjustable thumb-pieces for jar or can tops, spouts, bottles, or anywhere that the same may be used, and has for its object to provide a device of the character set forth that is simple' and inexpensive in its nature and of practical utility, and whereby jar or can tops may be removed or unscrewed with facility, especially when the said tops firmly adhere to the jars or cans through oxidation or the coagulation of sticky substances, and avoid the use of grip-wrenches or other similar attachments and implements; and with this object in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a jar, showing the improved removable or adjustable thumbpiece in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a can top embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view in detail of the parts of the improved device detached and disconnected. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blanks used in making the improved attachment.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a jar or can top that is removably applied, and to the upper surface thereof, and extending diametrically across the same, is a guide-plate 2, having end ears 3, that are secured to the can top, and between the said ears the said plate is formed with inwardlybent U-shaped flanges 4, that have their inner edges spaced apart to form a guide 5. The U-shaped flanges 4 are open at their opposite ends, and the base of the guide 5, as formed by said flanges, is on a level with, or in the same horizontal plane as, the upper surface of the ears 3. A removable or adjustable thumb-piece 6 is connected to the said guide 5, and consists of a vertically-disposed engaging member 7, with flanges extending at right angles in opposite directions at the base thereof, as at 8, that take under the said flanges 4, and by which means a convenient hand or finger grip is supplied in connection with the jar or can top, whereby the same may be readily removed or applied. The said thumbpiece, as an entirety, is constructed of a piece of sheet-metal of a suitable nature, that is doubled upon itself to form the said hand or finger grip and give the latter a reinforced or rigid construction to resist the strain brought to bear thereon. In forming the flanges 8 the ends of the said sheet-metal forming the said hand or finger grip are struck outward in reverse direction as stated and a very simple and convenient manner of forming the device accrues from this arrangement. Adjacent to one end the flanges 8 are formed with shoulders 9, that extend transversely a greater distance than, and are adapted to abut against, either of the opposite ends or terminations of the flanges 4, to provide stops that will properly position the thumb-piece as an entirety centrally over the can top and also assist in holding the said thumb-piece in immovable connection with the guide 5, in operating the can or jar top to remove or apply the same.

In furnishing this device in connection with the jars or cans, each jar may be individually supplied with the same, or a predetermined number of jars or cans supplied with one or more, as may be found desirable and most convenient; and in packing and transporting the jars the thumb-pieces may be removed and properly nested and thereby avoid interfering projections at the top portions of the jars or cans. These features will, of course, be regulated by the contingencies arising in each instance.

By constructing the several parts of the attachment of sheet-metal, as shown in Fig. 4, a very inexpensive manner of construction is provided, and adapting the improvement as a whole to be easily applied to any jar now in usewithout specially constructing the top of the same and requiring very little labor and expense of time.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In combination with a jar or can top, of

IOC

a guide secured thereto, and a thumb-piece same that abut against one end or the other having lower flanges removably and slidingly of the said inwardly-turned flanges substanengaging said guide, substantially as 'detially as described. scribed. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 15 5 2. In combination with a jar or can top, of my ownI have hereto affixed my signature in a plate secured to the upper portion thereof the presence of two Witnesses. and extending diametrically of the same and provided with inwardly-turned flanges form- CLARK BRANFL ing a guide, and a thumb-piece formed with Witnesses;

10 lower flanges that removably engage the said H. L. BOWEN,

guide and having shoulders at one end of the O. A. HOWARD. 

